Arsenal's players react after the opening goal from FC Porto. Dec. 10, 2008. AP Photo/Paulo Duarte
It may not be the most prestigious trophy in English football, but the Carling Cup provides fans with plenty of entertainment nonetheless.
With big clubs such as Manchester United and Arsenal routinely using the competition as an opportunity to give up-and-coming and reserve players experience and a chance to impress, the League Cup has a tendency to be more attainable than most.
This coupled with the knockout format and the prize of a place in the Europa League, means there is good reason for those outside the so-called ‘big four’ to have a genuine tilt at the trophy.
The result is often fiercely fought contests between big guns and minnows that see either underdogs or a group of talented youngsters prevail.
With a combined total of 17 goals scored and heavyweights Arsenal and Chelsea eliminated from the competition, the 2009 Quarter Finals were no exception.
The pick of the draw saw a replay of last year’s Final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, while elsewhere Blackburn hosted Chelsea, Manchester City faced Arsenal, and Aston Villa travelled south to take on Portsmouth.
Stewart Downing was given his first start for Aston Villa and he celebrated it with a goal as the Villains easily accounted for Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Pompey managed an early goal when Stilian Petrov put through his own net but goals from English quartet Emile Heskey, Downing, Ashley Young and James Milner secured a 4-2 win for Villa with Kanu netting a second for Portsmouth late on.
At Old Trafford a lethargic looking Spurs outfit outplayed United’s young stars but were bested by two well taken goals from 22 year-old Irish international Darron Gibson in what turned out to be the round’s most lacklustre fixture.
On the sky blue side of Manchester, the roles were reversed in a decidedly more exciting encounter.
In a match played at a frenetic pace, a full strength Manchester City team triumphed over Arsene Wenger’s latest crop of talented kids.
Of the starters, only Alexandre Song and Tomas Rosicky can lay claim to a regular place in the Gunner’s first eleven, but that did not stop Arsenal from asking serious questions of City’s expensively assembled defence, particularly in an action-packed first half.
The Citizens’ class and experience came to the fore in the second period though, as they ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Carlos Tevez, Shaun Wright-Phillips and youngster Vladimir Weiss.
Chelsea was also bundled out of the competition at the hands of Blackburn Rovers but only after the two sides were separated by penalties.
Facing a Chelsea side bereft of no fewer than seven first team regulars, Blackburn thrilled their fans at Ewood Park when a 2-2 fulltime scoreline became 3-3 after two halves of extra time.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson was the hero in the shoot-out, saving spot kicks from Michael Ballack and teenager Gael Kakuta.
While it may not offer the prestige of the Premier League Trophy or the FA Cup, there are unique qualities to the Carling Cup that increasingly endear it to fans.
Whether it represents a rare and realistic shot at a trophy or simply an opportunity to showcase exciting football from some of tomorrow’s stars, the Carling Cup is a reliable source of competitive Cup Football.
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